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That includes public service announcements, special reports and town hall meetings.

“It’s not just money. We’ve got to do a far better job getting the word out. A far better job letting people know what the dangers are. Everybody’s got a stake in this,” said Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont.

Seventy-eight Americans die every day from an opioid overdose, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“Beyond just the news stories of reporting some of the tragedies. We need to be proactive, we need to do things that help educate our communities about this important initiative and fight it,” said Jordan Wertlieb, president of Hearst Television.

The public service announcements will air on local television and radio stations during the next 18 months. Hearst Television is one of the leaders in this effort.